NATCHEZ — Using their imaginations, and art supplies, three Adams County Christian School and Trinity Episcopal Day School students took top prizes in the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts’ poster contest for the Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District.

For the contest, students drew posters displaying the 2015 theme, “Local Heroes, Your Hardworking Pollinators.” More than 100 students participated in the district contest, and three winners were selected from ACCS and Trinity in the kindergarten through first grade category.

ACCS’s Ally Blanton, 7, placed first, with 6-year-old Trinity students Phoebe Jones and Michelle Baity, taking second and third place. Blanton’s poster also won at the area contest and is going onto the state competition.

Now in second grade, Blanton said she liked bees because they suck nectar out of flowers and buzz.

She also likes their appearance.

“I like their color,” Blanton said. “I like their stripes.”

ACCS art teacher Stephanie Martin said Blanton uses a variety of color in her work.

“She’s one of my good drawers,” Martin said. “She takes her time and works hard.”

Blanton found out she won on the school’s awards day at the end of last year.

Unlike Blanton, Trinity students Jones and Baity were in kindergarten last year, and found out about their awards only a few weeks ago.

All the girls love art.

“You get to paint, and you get to make fun crafts,” Baity said.

The three girls were taught about bees and their roles as pollinators during art class with their art teachers. Former Trinity Elementary art teacher Betsy Mosby said she read elementary-level books to the girls about pollinators.

Some of those lessons stuck.

“When the flowers grow, (bees) get the nectar out of them,” Jones said.

The girls drew posters of bees and other plants before submitting them. When she found out she won, Baity said she was excited about the prize money.

“I felt happy that I got $10 because I never got $10 before,” Baity said.

Martin said the contest gives students something new to do every year since the theme changes.

Current Trinity art teacher Susannah Heatherly said she likes the contest.

“Any time they get the chance to be creative with what they’re learning, that’s always a good idea,” Heatherly said.

Blanton is the daughter of Diane and Lee Blanton.

Jones is the daughter of Walton and Keri Jones. Baity is the daughter of David and Sharon Baity.